Engine-starting apparatus



J. BUUR.

ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS.

APPLICAHON FILED NOV- !6, 1916- Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEE'I S-SHEET l.

INVENTOR M) AE am J. BIJUR ENGINE STARTING APPARATUS.

APFLICAHON HLED NONI-16,1916.

1,337,973. Patented Apr. 20,1920.

2 SHEE'lS-SHET 2.

TED ST PATENT o-Fmon.

JOSEPH IBIJUR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN'OE, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 IBIJ'UIB; MOT R APPLIANCE COMPANY, A CURPORATION 0F DELAWARE.

ENGINE-STARTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, TlQZQ.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Josnrrr BIJUR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the boron h of Manhattan, in the city, county, and tate of New York, have invented an Improvement in Engine-Starting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to starting apparatus, and with regard to the more specific features thereof, to means for starting internal combustion engines.

One of the objects of thisinvention is to provide practical and easily operated means for starting a source of power.

Another object is to provide means of the above type of simple and durable construction peculiarly adapted for use in connection with internal combustion engines.

Another object is to provide efficient, relatively inexpensive and compact means of the above type which shall be convenient in control and whose action is automatic.

Another object is to simplify the construction and render more certain and efiicient the action of engine starting apparatus, I in which power transmitting parts are moved toward or away from operative relation by reaction one upon another. I

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein are shown two of various possible embodiments of the several features of this invention,

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one form of the apparatus, the motorheing in inoperative position, parts of the construction being shown in elevation. n

Fig. 2 is a section along line E2% of Fig. I Fl 3 is a view similar to Fig; 1, showing the pinion about to engage thefiy'whee'l gear. Fig. 4 is a fragmentar v ew, partly in section, showing the pimon in full mesh with the flywheel gear. Fig, 5 is a fragmentary view, partly" section, of a modified form of the invention showing the pinion out of mesh with the fiywhee Similar reference charactersrefer to similar parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to a of the drawings, there is shown a starting motor, having the usual casing 2 supporting an armature shaft 3 in bearings l in the ends thereof. The armature 5 which is rigid with the shaft, is shown unsymmetrically disposed with respect to field 6 whemthemotor is in inoperative position. The usual solenoid action initially exerted on the armature in motors of the type described will urge the armature into a position symmetrical with respect to the field as shown in Fig. 3. The usual coil spring 7 which biases the armature toward the position shown in Fig. 1, is confined between a cup-shaped conformation 8 in the end of the armature shaft and a cupped washer 9 in contiguity with screw threaded cap 10, whinh latter member is held without friction by ball 11 disposed in corresponding depressions in cap 10 and in washer 9, in a tubular extension 23 on one end of the casing. More detailed description of the motor is unnecessary as the same is of a well-known type, and the invention does not reside therein. It is to be understood, however, that certain economies in size and disposition of the parts and of operation of this type of motor are effected as one of the results of my invention as will appear below.

The shaft 3 has straight splines 12 on a slightly reduced projection, extending from its free end to a point opposite the inner face of the flywheel gear when the armature is in its innermost position as shown in- Fig. l, A gear or pinion 14: cooperates with said splined portion of the shaft and is limited against movement outward from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3 by washer 15 which is held in place by nut 19 on screwthreaded end 21 of shaft 3. The inward movement of the pinion or gear 1 1- is limited by shoulder 16 constitutin the junction between 3 proper an its splined continuation.

I "lhe teeth 1? of the'tiywneelgear 20 and teeth 18 of the gear or pinion 14, are spiral in form, and have the same pitch so" that they may intermesh.

A curved spring 22 is located on the shaft 3 preferably with its convexity against washer 15.

The operation of the above described embodiment of this invention is substantially as follows :Assuming that it be desired to start the engine, the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator closes the starting switch (not shown). Thereupon by an arrangement, not a part of this invention, usual with motors of the sliding armature type and therefore not shown, the armature is given only a small starting torque without interfering with strong energization of the field.

The field acting in the manner of a solenoid draws the armature inward overcoming the resistance of spring 7 until the armature is in symmetrical relation with said field, when the gear or pinion 14, will come into initial contact with flywheel gear 20, as shown inFig. 3.

. Thereupon, by some means usual with motors of the slider armature type, not a part of this invention and therefore not shown, the armature is allowed to develop its full torque. Spiral teeth 17 and 18 being in initial cooperation as shown in Fig. 2, and gear or pinion 14 being constrained to rotate with the armature, the component of the rotational force in the direction of the teeth will cause gear 14 to slide along the splined portion of shaft 3 until it reaches shoulder 16 when it is in full mesh with fly-wheel gear 20 as shown in Fig. 4. The motor now exerts its full torque and quickly starts engine 1 which upon speeding rotates armature 5 at such rate that its counter electromotive force quickly cuts down the strength of the field 6 and permits spring 7 to throw the armature outward. At the same time the teeth 18 on the gear 14 will retrace their course between the teeth 17 of the flywheel until the relation of parts shown in Fig. 1 is restored.

In case teeth of pinion 14 should abut teeth on the flywheel gear instead of commencing to mesh therewith when the starting switch is operated the armature will continue to move against the compression of spring 22 until it is in substantially symmetrical relation with the field at which time as above noted it develops its full torque. After a slight rotation of the armature the pinion is brought by cooperation with splines 12 into proper alinement with the flywheel, whereupon the expansion of compressed spring 22 brings about initial engagement between the teeth. Thereupon movement of the pinion to full meshing po sition and the subsequent steps proceed in the normal manner above outlined.

By my invention, as is seen, the range of slide of the armature can be made practically as short as desired. If the sliding of the armature alone is depended on to place the gears into full effective mesh, its sliding range would have to be greater than the width of the flywheel gear. As a consequence, the commutator would have to be widened to that extent, and since both the lengthof the shaft and the allowance for its longitudinal movement would have to be increased accordingly, it is clear that the total length of the motor casing would have to be increased by at least twice the width of the flywheel gear.

Beside the economy in material and space thus effected by my invention, I obtain a highly efficient electrical action because of the exceedingly'short range through which the solenoid action above described takes place.

In Fig. 5, I have shown a modified form of the invention. The parts are designated by the same reference numerals as corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 4, except that the numerals of Fig. 5 are primed. Instead of the spiral gears shown in Figs. 1 to 4 this modification has spur gears, spur gear or pinion 14 having teeth 18 cooperating with teeth 17 on the spur geared edge 20 of the flywheel 13. Instead of the straight spline 12 of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 a spiral spline- 12' is used in this modification. A spring 22 corresponding to spring 22 in Figs. 1. to 4 is located on the shaft between gear 14 and washer 15'. In the latter respect and otherwise, this form is identical with that first described, and it need therefore not be set forth in greater detail.

The operation of this modification is similar to that of the other form above described. After gear or pinion 14' has been brought into initial engagement with gear 20 the latter member will resist turning of the former. As' a consequence rotation of shaft 3' will cause the gear or pinion 14 to travel along'the spiral spline until it abuts shoulder 16 at which time it is in full mesh with flywheel gear 20.

In case teeth of pinion or gear 14 should abut teeth on the flywheel gear instead of commencing to mesh therewith, when the starting switch is operated, the arresting of the gear 14 in its longitudinal movement will cause a compression of spring 22 by said gear, causing it to rotate slightly because of the spiral spline, until the teeth mesh as they should.

Further discussion of the operation and incidents of this embodiment of the inven tion is unnecessary because of the complete description above of the other embodiment.

It will thus be seen that there is herein described apparatus in which the several features of this invention are embodied and which apparatus in its action attains the various objects of the invention, and is well suited to meet the requirements of practical use.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an engine starting device, in combination, a driven member connected with an engine, a driving member normally out of cooperation with said driven member, and adapted to be driven by a motor, means for bringing said driving member into full effective cooperation with said driven member in part by a positive impulse which imparts a substantially translational movement with respect to the non-rotating parts of said motor and in part by a movement with respect to the rotating parts of said motor and means for automatically compelling proper alinement of said members should improper engagement occur.

2. In an engine starting device, in combination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a driving gear thereon, normally out of cooperation with said driven gear, and adapted to be driven by a motor, positive means for imparting a substantially translational movement to said driving gear with respect to the non-rotating parts of said mo tor to efiect initial cooperation with said driven gear, and means thereupon operative to urge said driving gear into full effective coaction with said driven member by a movement with respect to the rotating parts of said motor and means to compel proper alinement of gear teeth, should butting occur.

3. In an engine starting device, in combination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a driving gear, normally out of cooperation with said driven gear, motor driven shaft on which said driving gear is mounted, and means for bringing said driving gear into full efiective cooperation with said driven gear by a movement a part of which combines rotation and translation and another part of which is substantially free from rotation and auxiliary means acting to compel a slight rotation of said gear, to compel proper alinement of teeth, should butting occur.

4:. In an engine starting device, combination, a driven member, connected with an engine, a motor driven shaft, a driving gear mounted thereon, normally out of cooperation with said driven meniber,

means for securing initial cooperation between said two members, means thereupon operative, to displace said driving gear with respect to said shaft into full effective cooperation with said driven member, said means consisting of a helical track for said driving member and yielding means adapted to be distorted when said members coact improperly to compel a slight turning of said driving member for proper coaction.

5. An engine starting device comprising in combination, a motor having a shaft, a slidable armature rigid therewith, a driven gear connected with an engine, a driving gear having a splined connection with said shaft and a driving connection with said driven gear when in mesh therewith, one of said two connections of said driving gear being inclined with respect to said shaft, and a yielding means between said shaft and said driving gear, whereby if butting of teeth occurs said shaft will be permitted to move longitudinally with respect to said gear, said inclined connection compelling slight rotation of said gear to relieve butting.

6. In an engine starting device, in combination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a drive shaft, a driving gear, normally out of cooperation with said'driven gear, said driving member being longitudinally movable with said drive shaft, to efi'ect an initial cooperation with said driven gear, and means for urging said driving member into full effective cooperation with said driven gear by the rotation of said drive shaft and a yielding connection between said shaft and said driving gear to permit slight relative rotation to relieve butting of teeth should this occur.

7. In an engine starting device, in combination, a motor having a slidable shaft, a driving gear loosely threaded thereon, a driven gear connected with an engine, and a compression spring between said shaft and said driving gear, whereby if butting of teeth occurs, said spring will permit. said shaft to slide with respect to said driving gear, imparting a slight rotation thereto to relieve butting,

8. In an engine starting device, in com bination, a driven gear connected with an engine, a driving gear, a shaft on which said dr' ring is threaded, said being slidable to cause initial engagement between said gears, and a yielding stop on said shaft against which said driving gear abuts during the sl' 'ng movement of said shaft, said stop permitting longitudinal movement of said shaft if said driving gear is arrested bybutting of teeth.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification "his 10th day of November, 191%;

,IQSEL H 

